Positive body image, intuitive eating, and self-compassion protect against the onset of the core symptoms of eating disorders: A prospective study.

Abstract

Establishing factors that protect against the onset of eating disorder symptoms is needed to identify critical intervention targets to inform the design of more potent prevention programs. Knowledge of robust protective factors is lacking, which might account for the limited effectiveness of existing prevention programs. As positive body image, intuitive eating, and self-compassion show protective potential, the present study tested whether these factors protect against the onset of a range of different eating disorder symptoms. Data were analyzed from 1,270 women who completed study measures at baseline and 8 months. Logistic regressions tested whether, among initially asymptomatic women, baseline and changes in positive body image components (body appreciation, body image flexibility, and functionality appreciation), intuitive eating, and self-compassion predicted the continued absence versus onset of seven core eating disorder symptoms at follow-up. Each of the five factors at baseline was associated with a lower odds of symptom onset for each outcome in univariate analyses. Baseline body appreciation and intuitive eating scores remained consistent, unique predictors of a lower odds of experiencing symptom onset in multivariate models. Greater increases in intuitive eating and body appreciation over time were the two factors consistently associated with a lower odds of symptom onset across several outcomes. This study provides strong evidence for the protective influence of positive body image components, intuitive eating, and self-compassion against several eating disorder symptoms. Building these factors within established prevention programs may, in the longer term, help reduce the incidence of eating disorder syndromes and symptoms.